--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The best way to get the right answer on…" description: "\"The best way to get the right answer on the Internet is not to ask a question, it's to post the wrong answer.\" — Ward Cunningham" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/ward-cunningham-30213_answer_the-best-way-to-get-the-right-answer-on_3117527.png" --- # The best way to get the right answer on the Internet is… ![“The best way to get the right answer on the Internet is not to ask a question, it's to post the wrong answer.” quote by Ward Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/ward-cunningham-30213_answer_the-best-way-to-get-the-right-answer-on_3117527.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/ward-cunningham-30213_answer_the-best-way-to-get-the-right-answer-on_3117527.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/ward-cunningham-30213_answer_the-best-way-to-get-the-right-answer-on_3117527.png) > “The best way to get the right answer on the Internet is not to ask a question, it's to post the wrong answer.” [Ward Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The best way to find correct information online is to post an incorrect answer first, prompting corrections. **In simple terms:** Posting wrong answers can lead to correct ones. Key Takeaway Use errors to elicit accurate responses. Themes technology learning information retrieval Mood skeptical inquisitive Type educational practical When to use this quote - online forums - Q&A sites - software documentation - educational platforms Key Concepts crowdsourcing error correction knowledge building Questions to Reflect On - When is it appropriate to use this tactic? - How does community correction improve knowledge? A Different Perspective Wrong answers can spread misinformation if not corrected quickly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Answer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answer/) [Answer Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answer-internet-5461893/) [Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) [Ask A Question](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-a-question/) [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Best way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-way/) [Computer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet/) [Internet Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet-ask-1462782/) [Post Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/post-wrong-5461894/) [Posts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/posts/) [Question Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question-post-5461895/) [Questioning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/questioning/) [Right answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-answers/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong/) [Wrong Answer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong-answer-837082/) [Wrong answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong-answers/) ## Related quotes > [If you ask the wrong question, of course, you get the wrong answer. We find in design it's much more important and difficult to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amory-lovins/if-you-ask-the-wrong-question-of-course-you-get-the-wrong-answer-we/) [Amory Lovins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amory-lovins/) > [The wrong answer is the right answer in search of a different question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-mau/the-wrong-answer-is-the-right-answer-in-search-of-a-different-question/) [Bruce Mau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-mau/) > [I do not belong to this world. I continue to write everything in longhand. If I have to see something on the Internet, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/i-do-not-belong-to-this-world-i-continue-to-write-everything-in/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [This might be the wrong answer, but I kind of just eat whatever I want in moderation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-windsor/this-might-be-the-wrong-answer-but-i-kind-of-just-eat-whatever-i-want/) [Devon Windsor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-windsor/) > [There is not a right and a wrong answer to every question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/there-is-not-a-right-and-a-wrong-answer-to-every-question/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [Almost everyday I feel like a wrong answer that was just never erased .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/almost-everyday-i-feel-like-a-wrong-answer-that-was-just-never-erased/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To cut off the confusion and accept an answer just because it's too scary not to have an answer is a good way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/to-cut-off-the-confusion-and-accept-an-answer-just-because-it-s-too/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) > [I rather live with a right question than a wrong answer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthias/i-rather-live-with-a-right-question-than-a-wrong-answer/) [Matthias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthias/) > [“Wrong answer fucker”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mcheyzer/wrong-answer-fucker/) [Margaret McHeyzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mcheyzer/) > [My computer must be broken: whenever I ask a wrong question, it gives a wrong answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/my-computer-must-be-broken-whenever-i-ask-a-wrong-question-it-gives-a/) [Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/) > [“Religions exist because people would rather have a wrong answer than no answer at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/religions-exist-because-people-would-rather-have-a-wrong-answer-than/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [THERE IS NO WRONG ANSWER FROM TELLING THE TRUTH. novoice/](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/no-voice/there-is-no-wrong-answer-from-telling-the-truth-novoice/) [NO VOICE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/no-voice/) > [I don't think there's ever a wrong answer as long as people are willing to learn, share. You're never done learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-tans/i-don-t-think-there-s-ever-a-wrong-answer-as-long-as-people-are/) [Gillian Tans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-tans/) > [I bet you would feel pretty stupid if you said the wrong answer and just argued with that person and then you find out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknow-timmi/i-bet-you-would-feel-pretty-stupid-if-you-said-the-wrong-answer-and/) [Unknow Timmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unknow-timmi/) > [“It’s impossible, the not-knowing, but it’s better than getting the wrong answer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/it-s-impossible-the-not-knowing-but-it-s-better-than-getting-the/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) ## More by Ward Cunningham > [A wiki works best where you're trying to answer a question that you can't easily pose, where there's not a natural structure that's known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/a-wiki-works-best-where-you-re-trying-to-answer-a-question-that-you/) [Ward Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/) > [Shipping first time code is like going into debt. A little debt speeds development so long as it is paid back promptly with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/shipping-first-time-code-is-like-going-into-debt-a-little-debt-speeds/) [Ward Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/) > [There's been an awful lot of discussion about what is or isn't simple, and people have gotten a pretty sophisticated notion of simplicity, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/there-s-been-an-awful-lot-of-discussion-about-what-is-or-isn-t-simple/) [Ward Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/) > [Global collaboration is something that Wiki mastered in a small way and here we can master it in a big way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/global-collaboration-is-something-that-wiki-mastered-in-a-small-way/) [Ward Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/) > [What's the simplest thing that could possibly work?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/what-s-the-simplest-thing-that-could-possibly-work/) [Ward Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/) > [Over and over, people try to design systems that make tomorrow's work easy. But when tomorrow comes it turns out they didn't quite understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/over-and-over-people-try-to-design-systems-that-make-tomorrow-s-work/) [Ward Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/) > [Why have a locked wiki when you can instead just post static Web pages?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/why-have-a-locked-wiki-when-you-can-instead-just-post-static-web-pages/) [Ward Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/) > [The shortest path to exceeding expectations doesn't generally pass through meeting expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/the-shortest-path-to-exceeding-expectations-doesn-t-generally-pass/) [Ward Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/) > [When you get in situations where you cannot afford to make a mistake, it's very hard to do the right thing. So if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/when-you-get-in-situations-where-you-cannot-afford-to-make-a-mistake/) [Ward Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/) > [Each routine you read turns out to be pretty much what you expected. You can call it beautiful code when the code also makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/each-routine-you-read-turns-out-to-be-pretty-much-what-you-expected/) [Ward Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/) > [When I was at Tek, I was frustrated that computer hardware was being improved faster than computer software. I wanted to invent some software…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/when-i-was-at-tek-i-was-frustrated-that-computer-hardware-was-being/) [Ward Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/) > [I can't tell you how much time is spent worrying about decisions that don't matter. To just be able to make a decision and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/i-can-t-tell-you-how-much-time-is-spent-worrying-about-decisions-that/) [Ward Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/) > [What is simplicity? Simplicity is the shortest path to a solution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/what-is-simplicity-simplicity-is-the-shortest-path-to-a-solution/) [Ward Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/) > [I don't claim to be a methodologist, but I act like one only because I do methodology to protect myself from crazy methodologists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/i-don-t-claim-to-be-a-methodologist-but-i-act-like-one-only-because-i/) [Ward Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/) > [When a manager asks for hard data, that's usually just his way of saying no.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/when-a-manager-asks-for-hard-data-that-s-usually-just-his-way-of/) [Ward Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/) [Explore all 17 Ward Cunningham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/) ## More Answer quotes > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [What you are is a question only you can answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/what-you-are-is-a-question-only-you-can-answer/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) > [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [“And if you can’t say yes, answer anyway. Because I’d rather live with the answer than die with the question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ellis/and-if-you-can-t-say-yes-answer-anyway-because-i-d-rather-live-with/) [Jon Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ellis/) > [“There is a cure and answer to everything, we just haven't found them yet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-halimi/there-is-a-cure-and-answer-to-everything-we-just-haven-t-found-them/) [Eve Halimi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-halimi/) > [Whenever I'm asked about Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, I always answer: 'Neymar is the best,' not just because of his goals but because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-carlos/whenever-i-m-asked-about-cristiano-ronaldo-or-lionel-messi-i-always/) [Roberto Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-carlos/) > [A wiki works best where you're trying to answer a question that you can't easily pose, where there's not a natural structure that's known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/a-wiki-works-best-where-you-re-trying-to-answer-a-question-that-you/) [Ward Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/) > [“Those are good questions. I recognize good questions, because I can come up with them myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-brust/those-are-good-questions-i-recognize-good-questions-because-i-can/) [Steven Brust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-brust/) > [My answer is bring 'em on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/my-answer-is-bring-em-on/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I'll answer anything... I'm brutally honest, actually, which gets me in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mclachlan/i-ll-answer-anything-i-m-brutally-honest-actually-which-gets-me-in/) [Sarah McLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mclachlan/) > [“...I guess I can put two and two together." "Sometimes the answer's four," I said, "and sometimes it's twenty-two...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/i-guess-i-can-put-two-and-two-together-sometimes-the-answer-s-four-i/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [Jumping someone is never the answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/jumping-someone-is-never-the-answer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I play along myself, even though I can't help the player. So I can't say what I think the answer might be. But I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-mcguinness/i-play-along-myself-even-though-i-can-t-help-the-player-so-i-can-t/) [Paddy McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-mcguinness/) > [Sometimes the question is complicated, but the answers are simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-suess/sometimes-the-question-is-complicated-but-the-answers-are-simple/) [Dr Suess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-suess/) [Browse all 2,090 Answer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The best way to get the right answer on the Internet is not to ask a question, it's to post the wrong answer.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ward Cunningham" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/the-best-way-to-get-the-right-answer-on-the-internet-is-not-to-ask-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Answer" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/the-best-way-to-get-the-right-answer-on-the-internet-is-not-to-ask-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/ward-cunningham-30213_answer_the-best-way-to-get-the-right-answer-on_3117527.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/ward-cunningham-30213_answer_the-best-way-to-get-the-right-answer-on_3117527.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/ward-cunningham-30213_answer_the-best-way-to-get-the-right-answer-on_3117527.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The best way to get the right answer on the Internet is not to ask a question, it's to post the wrong answer.” — Ward Cunningham", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ward Cunningham", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The best way to get the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/the-best-way-to-get-the-right-answer-on-the-internet-is-not-to-ask-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/the-best-way-to-get-the-right-answer-on-the-internet-is-not-to-ask-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```